Dec. 31, 2009
The mischievous noughties
To say the least, the noughties, another term for the 2000s, have been an interesting decade, but they didn't turn out to be the happiest in history. The nation recently went through the worst economic depression since the 1930s, a frightening terrorist attack in 2001, two wars and a devastating natural disaster. The moments the nation failed to experience are also upsetting. Even with a new presidential administration, wars are continuing and health care reform has yet to materialize.
This decade, the nation also witnessed the shocking deaths of numerous celebrities, from Heath Ledger to Michael Jackson to, most recently, Brittany Murphy. These performers held so much promise and had bright futures that terminated too quickly.
Simultaneously the decade offered a chance for the nation to start fresh. The progress the nation has made in the 2000s indicates promising and positive changes in the future. Political barriers have been broken in Washington, D.C., as Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president and Sonia Sotomayor nominated and confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice.
The noughties also gave birth to one of the most important inventions in history - the Internet. As a result of the technology, online media exploded and life's pace grew quicker. Now, search engines, email and web sites allow a steady stream of information. Online social networks, such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter have sprung up like dandelions, connecting people across the nation and the world.
2010 only serves more promise. Why not use the Internet to create a new direction or lead the way to change? This medium is not simply there to provide a way to write statuses or post pictures. It provides a form of expression and an endless source of available attention. We must utilize the golden opportunity of a new beginning to change and make a difference. A new year always comes with glitter, bright lights and parties. It also comes with expectations that can be shattered or fulfilled. Let's resolve to make 2010 better than the last.
Confetti and streamers are remnants of 2008's New Year's Eve Celebration in Times Square. Picture courtesy of the New York Times.
Simultaneously the decade offered a chance for the nation to start fresh. The progress the nation has made in the 2000s indicates promising and positive changes in the future. Political barriers have been broken in Washington, D.C., as Barack Obama was elected as the 44th president and Sonia Sotomayor nominated and confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice.
The noughties also gave birth to one of the most important inventions in history - the Internet. As a result of the technology, online media exploded and life's pace grew quicker. Now, search engines, email and web sites allow a steady stream of information. Online social networks, such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter have sprung up like dandelions, connecting people across the nation and the world.
2010 only serves more promise. Why not use the Internet to create a new direction or lead the way to change? This medium is not simply there to provide a way to write statuses or post pictures. It provides a form of expression and an endless source of available attention. We must utilize the golden opportunity of a new beginning to change and make a difference. A new year always comes with glitter, bright lights and parties. It also comes with expectations that can be shattered or fulfilled. Let's resolve to make 2010 better than the last.
Discuss this Article
You are supposedly reflecting upon the entire decade but almost all your examples are from this year. Of all the political craziness of the past years you chose only the most recent events. Bush presided for 8 out of these 10 years, and certainly gives a lot to talk about, but there was no mention of him. And the celebrity deaths? With all respect to Ms. Murphy, do you think her death was really one of the most prominent of the _decade_??
This blog is not really much of a "reflection" at all, you are simply stating just some random occurrences that happened over the past few years -- and even those are oddly chosen. I would have liked to see not only a more representative set of events but maybe a more interesting analysis. I didn't come away with anything new after reading this. And how exactly were the noughties "mischievous"???
I think you had some problems with setting your scope too wide here.
while i guess this decade was when the rapid growth of the internet occurred, you can nott say it was the "birth" of the invention. the internet existed and was quite popular, for even recreation, in the 90s for sure.